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Registration for the opportunity to purchase ticket strips and to volunteer for 2013 MLB All-Star events will begin today, Thursday, October 4 for the general public at allstargame.com and mets.com/2013. Each strip includes one ticket to each All-Star Week event at the ballpark, two MLB All-Star FanFest tickets and one Official All-Star Game program. MLB All-Star Week at Citi Field includes the 84th MLB All-Star Game (July 16), Gatorade All-Star Workout Day (July 15) featuring the Home Run Derby and All-Star Batting Practice, and Taco Bell All-Star Sunday (July 14) featuring the SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game and the Taco Bell All-Star Legends & Celebrity Softball Game. MLB All-Star FanFest (July 12–16) will be held at the Javits Center.

Winners for ticket strips will be selected at random to ensure as many fans as possible have the chance to purchase strips. Existing New York Mets Full Season Ticket and 40-Game Plan Holders, as well as 20-Game and 15-Game Plan Holders that qualified for a strip offer before July 10, 2012, will receive information in the coming months regarding their opportunity to purchase 2013 All-Star Game Ticket Strips.

With thousands of baseball fans from around the world planning to visit New York City during 2013 MLB All-Star Week, 2,000 community volunteers will be sought to assist with All-Star Week and All-Star FanFest. Qualified volunteers must be 18 years of age or older (as of June 30, 2013), enjoy baseball and volunteering, pass a background check and be available to work a minimum of three shifts during MLB All-Star Week.

The 2013 All-Star Game will mark the second time that the Mets, who are commemorating their 50th anniversary in 2012, will host the Midsummer Classic. Shea Stadium hosted the 1964 All-Star Game, a 7-4 National League victory that featured 21 participating Hall of Famers, including Hank Aaron, Roberto Clemente, Sandy Koufax, Mickey Mantle and Willie Mays, as well as two of MLB’s Executive Vice Presidents, Frank Robinson and Joe Torre. (Highlights of the 1964 All-Star Game at Shea Stadium are available here, courtesy of MLB Productions: http://atmlb.com/JjiQ9W.) It will be the ninth All-Star Game in Baseball history to be played in New York City, which is the most of any host city.

Gatorade All-Star Workout Day features American League and National League batting practice followed by the Home Run Derby, where players from each League participate in a home run hitting contest. Recent winners include Prince Fielder (2012), Robinson Cano (2011) and David Ortiz (2010).

Taco Bell All-Star Sunday includes the SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game, which showcases many of the top Minor League prospects and has featured current Mets Matt Harvey (2011), David Wright (2004) and Andres Torres (2002). In addition to Wright, other players who have competed in both the SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game and the MLB All-Star Game include Prince Fielder, Josh Hamilton, Bryce Harper, Felix Hernandez, Mike Trout, Justin Verlander and Joey Votto. The 2013 Taco Bell All-Star Legends & Celebrity Softball Game, also part of Taco Bell All-Star Sunday, will feature stars from film, music, television and entertainment teaming up with former Major Leaguers and former Mets stars immediately following the SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game. Past celebrity participants have included Jon Hamm, Jimmy Kimmel, Kate Upton, Marisa Miller, Chris Rock and Jordin Sparks. The game has also featured a collection of Hall of Famers including Ernie Banks, Rollie Fingers, Goose Gossage, Rickey Henderson, Paul Molitor, Ozzie Smith and Dave Winfield.

Major League Baseball All-Star FanFest will be held at the Javits Center. The five-day event, beginning on July 12 will serve as the launch for MLB All-Star Week, which will culminate with the 84th Midsummer Classic on July 16 at Citi Field. MLB All-Star FanFest is the world’s largest interactive baseball fan event, providing an unrivaled experience for fans of all ages. Among its attractions are an exhibit from the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, batting cages, clinics from Major League legends, free autograph sessions with former Mets and MLB legends, memorabilia, and much more.